ed to accept the government: Requesens,
commendator of Castile, was sent from Italy to replace Alva; and this
tyrant departed from the Netherlands in 1574; leaving his name in
execration to the inhabitants; and boasting in his turn, that, during
the course of five years, he had delivered above eighteen thousand of
these rebellious heretics into the hands of the executioner.[**]

* Bentivoglio, lib. vol.1.*

** Grotius, lib. ii.

Requesens, though a man of milder dispositions, could not appease the
violent hatred which the revolted Hollanders had conceived against the
Spanish government; and the war continued as obstinate as ever. In the
siege of Leyden, under taken by the Spaniards, the Dutch opened the
dikes and sluices, in order to drive them from the enterprise: and the
very peasants were active in ruining their fields by an inundation,
rather than fall again under the hated tyranny of Spain. But
notwithstanding this repulse, the governor still pursued the war; and
the contest seemed too unequal between so mighty a monarchy and two
small provinces, however fortified by nature, and however defended
by the desperate resolution of the inhabitants. The prince of Orange,
therefore, in 1575, was resolved to sue for foreign succor, and to make
applications to one or other of his great neighbors, Henry or Elizabeth.
The court of France was not exempt from the same spirit of tyranny and
persecution which prevailed among the Spaniards; and that kingdom, torn
by domestic dissensions, seemed not to enjoy, at present, either
leisure or ability to pay regard to foreign interests. But England, long
connected both by commerce and alliance with the Netherlands, and now
more concerned in the fate of the revolted provinces by sympathy in
religion, seemed naturally interested in their defence; and as Elizabeth
had justly entertained great jealousy of Philip, and governed her
kingdom in perfect tranquillity, hopes were entertained that her policy,
her ambition, or her generosity, would engage her to, support them under
their present calamities. They sent, therefore, a solemn embassy to
London, consisting of St. Aldegonde, Douza, Nivelle, Buys, and Melsen;
and after employing the most humble supplications to the queen, they
offered her the possession and sovereignty of their provinces, if she
would exert her power in their defence.

There were many strong motives which might impel Elizabeth to accept of
so liberal an offer.